Adventure of the Week: Hike the Art Loeb Trail

A pair of backpackers make their way along the Art Loeb trail, approaching Tennent Mountain on their way into the Shining Rock Wilderness. Views on parts of the trail in the Pisgah National Forest would be impacted by a proposed timber sale.

Where: Trail runs through the Pisgah National Forest and into the Shining Rock Wilderness, southwest of Asheville.

When: Trail is always open, but access roads, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, are subject to closures during the winter depending on the weather.

Details: The Art Loeb Trail is a much-loved, 31.1-mile trail running along ridge lines in Pisgah National Forest. It is popular in the spring for its access to acres of wildflowers and in the summer for its high elevations that offer relief from the summer heat.

But the trail has been getting lots of attention lately because of a proposed U.S. Forest Service logging project known as the Courthouse Creek Project, that has the potential to affect the scenic beauty of the trail.

The Carolina Mountain Club, which is opposed to the timber sale, offers a few hikes a year along this trail, said Ruth Hartzler, a hike leader who lives in Asheville.

"This hike is a pilgrimage for the Carolina Mountain Club with at least two hikes offered, sometimes specifically for photography," Hartzler said. "Often, the hikers are split into groups to accommodate the large turnout. Ephemeral canopies of delicate pink flowers are a delight.

"In addition, yellow trout lilies blanket Farlow Gap. Our concern is the the unique recreational value of this area will be harmed by extensive logging planned for this project."

The public has until Jan. 18 to comment on the Courthouse Creek Project Environmental Assessment, which outlines a plan to log 472 acres in Pisgah National Forest adjacent to popular hiking trails, including the Art Loeb, Mountains-to-Sea and the Courthouse Falls trails.

If you want to check out the Art Loeb trail for yourself to participate in the discussion on the timber sale, head out to the forest this weekend. One of the major access roads is the Blue Ridge Parkway, which leads to Forest Service Road 816 at Milepost 420. As of press time the parkway in this section was closed for ice on the roads, but check daily for updated conditions.

The Art Loeb Trail leads from the Black Balsam trailhead north along ridges to Tennent Mountain, into the Shining Rock Wilderness and Deep Gap. This is a popular access to the trail to Cold Mountain. The Art Loeb Trail heads west before Cold Mountain, ending at Daniel Boone Camp in Canton. The trail can also be accessed from the parkway and taken south to Farlow Gap and Pilot Mountain. Another access to Art Loeb is off U.S. 276 in Pisgah Forest at the Davidson River Campground. The Pisgah Ranger Station on U.S. 276 has maps and more information on the trail.